1
as in oppressive
difficult to endure
the murderous heat of the desert
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
those exams were murderous
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in lethal
likely to cause or capable of causing death
braved murderous machine-gun fire to capture the hill from the enemy
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4
as in murdering
eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, extreme violence, or killing
Viking warriors became legendary for the murderous fury they displayed in battle
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of murderous
Going rogue against the Director’s wishes, Eve turns her quest for vengeance into a rescue when a little girl is kidnapped, and globe trots from a neon New York nightclub to a snowy Austrian village full of murderous locals.
—
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2025
The new play now at A Red Orchid Theatre is about the existential angst that flows from an acting role only a Soviet apparatchik could truly love: standing in for a murderous dictator with myriad enemies.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
When facing imminent danger (a murderous cat intent on slaughtering the family of mice), the resourceful Mamá Ratón begins barking ferociously at the feline.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
But Lijn’s mechanized drama is a resolutely feminist one, a face-off between two cyborgs who both conjure and complicate the archetypes of the nature goddess and the murderous woman.
—Marina Isgro, Artforum, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2025
The new play now at A Red Orchid Theatre is about the existential angst that flows from an acting role only a Soviet apparatchik could truly love: standing in for a murderous dictator with myriad enemies.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025
When facing imminent danger (a murderous cat intent on slaughtering the family of mice), the resourceful Mamá Ratón begins barking ferociously at the feline.
—Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
But Lijn’s mechanized drama is a resolutely feminist one, a face-off between two cyborgs who both conjure and complicate the archetypes of the nature goddess and the murderous woman.
—Marina Isgro, Artforum, 1 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for murderous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murderous
Adjective
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More than 60 years ago, my parents fled Cuba for the United States, seeking freedom from an oppressive regime that dictated what businesses produced and how products were priced.—
Carlos Cubelo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
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The film follows a 40-year-old widowed nurse named Mahnaz, who is struggling with a rebellious son and other complications in a heavily oppressive patriarchal context.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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No matter how sweet, the little crocodile grows bigger and more difficult to care for.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 June 2025
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Despite her risky gambit, Metcalfe, who is studying to be an attorney at the University of Law in Manchester, England, admits that her sport has helped her through some of the most difficult times of her life.—
Andy Frye,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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But after autopsy results from the last inmate killed by that method showed that the bullets from the three volunteers nearly missed his heart, Stanko chose lethal injection.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 June 2025
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Now 20 years later, Stanko is set to be executed by lethal injection in South Carolina on Friday, June 13, in what will be the nation's 23rd execution of the year and the fourth this week alone.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
Unlike many traditional sunscreens that contain oxybenzone and octinoxate—two common culprits behind coral bleaching—reef-safe formulas skip the harsh stuff in favor of ocean-friendly alternatives that tend to also be gentler on sensitive skin.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
16 June 2025
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Some of them include washing with harsh shampoos, particularly those with sulfates or alcohol; overusing scalp scrubs or clarifying products; and not washing frequently enough.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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Dumping syndrome can be more challenging to diagnose in children.—
Janelle McSwiggin,
Health,
14 June 2025
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Oakmont is a notoriously challenging course, a venue that has already seen big-name players like defending champion Bryson DeChambeau fail to make it through to the last two rounds.—
Patrick Snell,
CNN Money,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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While people who have had measles gain immunity, there can be risks and deadly consequences.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
12 June 2025
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The Los Angeles Police Department charged him with assault with a deadly weapon the next day after the rapper allegedly entered the wrong home while looking for his girlfriend and swung a hatchet at two people.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
Adjective
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After watching in terror as a man violently attacked a police officer in an El Cajon fast-food restaurant, Iesha Booker checked for a pulse on the bloody, unconscious officer and yelled into the radio on his belt.—
Karen Kucher,
sandiegouniontribune.com,
19 July 2017
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Photos of the man in a hospital bed with a bloody mouth were also posted.—
Jonece Starr Dunigan,
AL.com,
14 July 2017
Adjective
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Caminero, who was hitless in his previous 17 at-bats, led off with a searing homer to left-center, hit at 109.2 mph and carrying 409 feet.—
Marc Topkin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 June 2025
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Dad can whip up incredible meals with cookware that offers the searing power of stainless steel and the easy cleanup of nonstick.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Murderous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murderous. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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